Chapter 3: My Mother Signed the Death Certificate
I stared at the paper.
Then I stared at Detective Brooks.
“That's my mother's signature.””
He nodded.
“Your mother was listed as the witness who identified your wife's body.””
I shook my head.
“No. She told me she never saw Danielle at the hospital.””
“Did she?””
I remembered the conversation.
Margaret had stood in my kitchen two days earlier, holding a cup of tea while I struggled to understand what the hospital had told me.
She had rubbed my shoulder.
She had told me everything would be okay.
She had even helped me choose Danielle's funeral dress.
But she had never mentioned going to the hospital.
“Why would my mother sign this?”” I whispered.
Detective Brooks closed the folder.
“That's what we're trying to establish.””
Danielle suddenly gripped my hand.
“Michael.””
I turned toward her.
“What is it?””
“Don't let them take Ava.””
Detective Brooks leaned forward.
“Mrs. Carter, do you believe your daughter is in danger?””
Danielle's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
“From whom?””
She looked at me.
Then she said something that made the room feel ten degrees colder.
“Both grandmothers.””
Ava was staying with my brother Daniel at his house.
I had asked him to keep her away from the hospital until I knew what was happening.
Now I was terrified that even that wasn't enough.
I called him immediately.
“Daniel, listen carefully. Don't let Ava out of your sight.””
“What happened?””
“Did anyone contact you?””
There was a pause.
“Actually, yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
“Mom.””
“Margaret?””
“Yes. She called about ten minutes ago. She said she was coming to pick Ava up.””
I stood.
“Don't let her.””
“I didn't. But she said you had authorized it.””
“I didn't authorize anything.””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Michael, she sounded angry.””
“Keep the doors locked. I'm coming.””
I turned toward Detective Brooks.
“My mother is trying to take my daughter.””
He immediately stood.
“Where is she?””
“At my brother's house.””
“Give me the address.””
I sent it to him.
Then I looked at Danielle.
“I'll be back as soon as I can.””
She caught my wrist.
“Michael, there's something else.””
I bent closer.
“What?””
“Under the floorboard…”
Her voice faded.
“Which floorboard?””
“The nursery.””
I frowned.
“What about it?””
“Your father left something there.””
I stared at her.
“My father?””
Danielle nodded.
“He told me to keep it safe. I didn't understand why until Evelyn started asking questions.””
“What did he leave?””
Danielle's eyes moved toward the door.
“I don't know everything. But there's a letter. And a recording.””
Before I could ask another question, Detective Brooks returned from the hallway.
“Mr. Carter, we need to leave now.””
He had his phone in his hand.
“Your mother has just arrived at your brother's house.””
When we pulled up outside Daniel's house, a police cruiser was already parked in the driveway.
Margaret stood on the front porch.
She wore a beige coat and carried a pink overnight bag.
Ava's bag.
My mother was trying to pack my daughter.
Daniel stood in the doorway, blocking her entrance.
“Mom, I told you Michael needs to approve this.””
Margaret lifted her chin.
“I am her grandmother. I don't need permission to take care of my granddaughter.””
“She's staying here.””
“She's coming with me.””
I got out of the car.
“Mom!””
Margaret turned.
For one brief second, I saw genuine surprise on her face.
Then she smiled.
“Michael. Thank goodness. You're here.””
I walked toward her.
“Why are you trying to take Ava?””
She sighed dramatically.
“Because you're not thinking clearly. You've been through a terrible experience.””
“My wife is alive.””
Her expression barely changed.
“I know.””
Those two words stopped me.
I stepped closer.
“What did you say?””
Margaret looked at Detective Brooks.
Then back at me.
“I heard what happened at the funeral.””
“That's not what I asked.””
She lowered her voice.
“Michael, we need to talk privately.””
“No. We're talking here.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Your father would be ashamed of you.””
I almost laughed.
“Don't bring Dad into this.””
“He left behind a complicated estate. I have spent years protecting what he built.””
“You mean protecting your access to his money?””
Her face reddened.
“Don't you dare speak to me like that!””
Detective Brooks stepped between us.
“Mrs. Carter, I need you to answer a few questions.””
Margaret straightened her coat.
“Of course, Detective. I've done nothing wrong.””
“Did you identify Danielle Carter's body two days ago?””
She hesitated.
“I did.””
“Did you personally see her face?””
Another pause.
“No. The hospital staff told me there had been damage from the accident.””
I felt sick.
“You told me you never went to the hospital.””
Margaret looked at me.
“I was trying to spare you.””
“Spare me from what?””
She didn't answer.
Detective Brooks opened his folder.
“Mrs. Carter, the hospital has no record of you being authorized to identify the deceased. The signature on this document is also being examined.””
Margaret's face changed.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
I stepped forward.
“You signed my wife's death certificate.””
“I signed what they told me to sign!””
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Everyone went silent.
Detective Brooks immediately looked up.
“Who told you to sign it?””
Margaret pressed her lips together.
“I'm not answering that.””
“Was it Dr. Hayes?””
She looked away.
I grabbed the railing.
“Mom, tell me the truth.””
For the first time, she looked frightened.
“Michael, you don't understand. Evelyn said it was the only way.””
“The only way to do what?””
“To protect you!””
I shook my head.
“From my wife?””
Margaret began crying.
“She was going to take everything.””
“Danielle?””
“She had documents. She knew about the trust. She threatened to expose us.””
I stared at her.
“Expose you for what?””
Margaret wiped her cheeks.
Then she looked at Ava through the window.
“Your father didn't die naturally, Michael.””
The world seemed to stop.
Detective Brooks took one step forward.
“Mrs. Carter, what exactly are you saying?””
Margaret opened her mouth.
But before she could speak, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
The caller's name was displayed clearly.
*EVELYN.*
Detective Brooks reached for it.
“Don't answer.””
Margaret looked at him.
Then she looked at me.
And slowly, she pressed the green button.
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
“Margaret, is the child with you?””
My mother swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Good. Bring her to the house. Michael must never find out what we did in the nursery.””
My blood turned cold.
I snatched the phone.
“Evelyn?””
Silence.
Then my mother-in-law spoke.
“Michael?””
I tightened my grip.
“What happened in my daughter's nursery?””
Evelyn gave a small, bitter laugh.
“You really should have listened to your father.””
A pause.
Then she whispered something I would never forget.
“Because the man who killed him is still living in your house.””
The call disconnected.
I turned toward Daniel.
His face had gone pale.
Then I looked through the window.
Ava was standing in the hallway, holding a small wooden box.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to my father.
And taped to its lid was a photograph of him standing beside a woman I had never seen before.
May you like
On the back, in his handwriting, were seven words:
*MICHAEL, YOUR MOTHER IS NOT YOUR REAL MOTHER.*
